Monday, July 6, Day 20
125 miles to travel
We had a sunny day for a change as we crossed into Maine—state #48 for us!
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| Lunch stop |
We were within 40 miles of our destination when we stopped for
lunch at the Hen House in Springvale, ME.
We are glad we did! We were pleased
to find that their luncheon special was a lobster roll, which we had yet to try
on this trip. 
We had heard a lot about this presentation and how good it can be. It was. It seems that this was the first day that the new cook was making these chunky lobster presentations with her homemade potato salad on the side. Both the lobster roll and the potato salad were great. Each roll was filled with juicy chunks of cold lobster and topped with a shelled lobster claw. Yep, I knew we were in lobster Mecca.
An interesting thing happened as we were stopped at a traffic
light 15 miles from our destination. An older gentleman rushed from the side of
the road animatedly waving his hands at the two lanes of traffic and pleading
for us to pull across traffic because he just had to talk to us about our truck
camper. I looked at Daisy, said what the heck, as he stopped all traffic so
that I could make a right hand turn from a left turn lane directly into a
vacuum cleaner repair shop that he owned. As I parked in front of his shop, I
noticed a TC parked next to the building. He introduced himself as Ray and
thanked us for stopping to visit with him for a few minutes on TC lore. Thirty minutes
later we left, after making his day and creating a pleasant memory for us. Mainers
are truly different.
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| The forested path to Paula and Craig's house |
We shortly arrived at Craig and Paula’s house near Lyman, ME. We spend the winter at the same resort in Texas that they do.
We got set up in a side area of their driveway, and over cool drinks told them of our unexpected stop just a few miles from their house. Of course they knew the guy.
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| They have a large driveway and 30 amp power! |
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| Nicely decorated for the holiday |
Paula and Craig's house is on Swan Pond, a lake about 1 mile long and ½ mile wide.
Paula gave us a tour of her gardens, which contain over 200 different varieties of hostas plus flowers and a few veggies.
It seems
their house started out as a rustic “camp” cabin and they built around it. The house
is about the same square footage as our house in Arkansas, but on three levels
to enhance its lake views.
They, like Roy and Judi from RI, took us on a ride to
see the local area, which on this day meant Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, ME.
We
saw lots of big shore “cottages” of the rich and famous,
including the Bush
family compound.
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| "If I can just get down here..." |
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| A rock treasure |
It's amazing where she can go wearing flip-flops.
We drove into the St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery, |
| Taxi? |
around the
town and harbor,
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| A double master |
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| St. Ann's Episcopal Church |
and had dinner of fried whole clams at Federal Jack's Restaurant and Brew Pub.
Whole clams are distinctly different from clam strips,
and are much better in our opinion.
Back at their house, we were visiting when the power went off. So we lighted candles and continued our visitation, listening to the loons on the lake for background music. As we entered the TC for the night, we turned on our house (battery) lights. They got their power restored later that night.
Tuesday July 7, Day 21
We had a good day of sightseeing with Paula and Craig. We
toured several beach areas that were down scale from Kennebunkport in terms of
housing, but still beautiful locations.
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| A great tourist day |
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| More affordable homes |
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| Then there are these. |
One great stop was the Nubble Light, where a city park volunteer discussed with us the history of this area. The lighthouse was completed in 1877. The Nubble Light has appeared on more postcards, calendars, and other souvenirs than any other New England lighthouse. The last lightkeeper left in 1987. It is now automated and owned by the town of York.
We of course had to have lunch near the beach. Daisy looked at me skeptically as she got a lobster roll ...and I ordered a hot dog. But it was what I wanted!
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| Dog and claw |
After lunch we went back into the gift shop where a local artist was selling signed prints of his works. These prints are unique in that he would put your name on the sailboat in the print.
We had him write “Come Go With Us” (our travel motto) on the bow of the boat. Come see it hung up in the sunroom of our Arkansas house.
Our next stop was for something
sweet so we went off to the “Goldenrod Kisses” taffy shop.
They also carry 100 other kinds of jelly candies and chocolate covered nuts and fruits. We all found something we could not live without at that moment.
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| Their "camp" from the water |
Paula fixed chicken, Asian rice, and asparagus on her special BBQ grill pan for dinner. This evening we did not lose power. We had a relaxing evening and talked of the open road, because the next day we would be on the road again. New adventures beckoned us.
Wednesday, July 8, Day 22
Miles to travel this day 187
We said our goodbyes to Craig and Paula over scrambled eggs
and hash browns.
We stopped in Freeport, ME at the flagship L.L. Bean store.
We
shopped and had lunch at Linda Bean’s eatery next door.
Yep, we shared another lobster roll, this one labeled as being “colossal,”
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| It was good. |
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| A wee one! |
Our destination was Franklin, ME and another couple with whom we spend winters in Texas. Jack and Jane spend part of their summer in private “family camp” on the shore of a lake called Donnell Pond.
Their place is secluded, so we met them at a crossroads and Jack rode with me to navigate us to their place.
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| Are you sure we can get there from here, Jack? |
It is a rustic 2-bedroom cabin with a loft and screened-in porch.
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| We set up above the cabin next to Jack and Jane's RV. |
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| Lakefront of course |
We quickly set up our camper and went to dinner at a nearby favorite: Ruth and Wimpy’s Restaurant. It’s easy to find the place—you just ask any local for directions to Wilbur, the 20 foot lobster.
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| Daisy's new man |
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| Jack and Jane went up the hill to fetch a pot of lobstas! |
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| Mussels and friend |
Jane, Daisy, and I each had the real thing: 1-1/2 lb. soft-shell
lobsters. A soft-shell lobster, sometimes called a “shedder lobster,” is one
that has just recently molted, or shed its old shell, so it can begin growing a
new, larger shell.
Did you know that a lobster loses it shell as often as 5 times a year during its first years of life? Maine residents often prefer eating soft-shell lobsters, since the lobster meat can be sweeter than hard-shell lobsters, and a shedder lobster’s shell can usually be broken apart with bare hands after cooking, without needing a nutcracker.
Did you know that a lobster loses it shell as often as 5 times a year during its first years of life? Maine residents often prefer eating soft-shell lobsters, since the lobster meat can be sweeter than hard-shell lobsters, and a shedder lobster’s shell can usually be broken apart with bare hands after cooking, without needing a nutcracker.
Jane demonstrated the proper techniques for eating a lobster. She even brought scissors and specially selected dental tools to assist in the process. Even with the soft-shell lobster, Jane’s tools came in handy to get all of the delicious meat.
We made good use of the melted dipping butter. The ladies added corn on the cob and I added mussels to round out the meal. Oh, Jack decided he would rather have a hamburger. We all left full and happy.
Thursday, July 9, Day 23
We had a leisurely start to the day. It was cool and damp
this morning so Jack fired up the wood stove in the cabin to ward off the morning
chill. Jane made me a cup of green tea and I occupied a rocking chair and
watched the fire burn behind its glass door. It doesn't take much to please me.
As we planned our day, our hosts said they would take us out and show us the area around Acadia National Park that the locals like to frequent. I have to admit that I like taking advantage of the hosts’ expertise and not having to drive.
Our travels took us through a beautiful countryside of firs and spruces to the Schoodic Peninsula in Down East Maine. It is located about four miles east of Bar Harbor.
This area includes a segment of the Acadia National Park at the Point. Only 10% of visitors to the park make the trip to the peninsula, which is more secluded with its rock beaches and spruce-fir forest.
We saw a number of large, old houses that the “old-money” rich people from NY, CT, and MA built as their summer “cottages.”
Jack and Jane are ardent art admirers, and they took us to several galleries, featuring
media from watercolors to rock sculptures.
We went to the peninsula segment of
Acadia National Park, put on our jackets, and enjoyed walking the worn, rocky
Atlantic beaches. The waters were calm with mild wave action. So we sat awhile,
watched the waves, and enjoyed each others company.
That evening we relaxed a bit first...then ordered a take-home pizza and watched a video on the history of Acadia National Park.
It was interesting to note that it was the “old money” that had created Acadia National Park. None of the lands were the government domain to begin with, but they were given by the wealthy for the public benefit. It was encouraging to learn about this philanthropic use of wealth.
As we planned our day, our hosts said they would take us out and show us the area around Acadia National Park that the locals like to frequent. I have to admit that I like taking advantage of the hosts’ expertise and not having to drive.
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| One of our discoveries |
Our travels took us through a beautiful countryside of firs and spruces to the Schoodic Peninsula in Down East Maine. It is located about four miles east of Bar Harbor.
This area includes a segment of the Acadia National Park at the Point. Only 10% of visitors to the park make the trip to the peninsula, which is more secluded with its rock beaches and spruce-fir forest.
We saw a number of large, old houses that the “old-money” rich people from NY, CT, and MA built as their summer “cottages.”
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| Summer cottage with a roof view |
We toured the
Point at Winter Harbor,
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| Lobster traps |
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| Lobster boats |
then had lobster stew and whole belly clam chowder for
lunch.
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| Lobsta stew was Daisy's selection. |
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| Clam chowder was my choice. |
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| Jane loved rubbing this carved piece of granite |
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| They look like irises |
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| Daisies go hand in hand with a lovers' stroll. |
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| Low wave action this day |
That evening we relaxed a bit first...then ordered a take-home pizza and watched a video on the history of Acadia National Park.
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| Daisy's relaxing position #1 |
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| Daisy's relaxing position #2 |
It was interesting to note that it was the “old money” that had created Acadia National Park. None of the lands were the government domain to begin with, but they were given by the wealthy for the public benefit. It was encouraging to learn about this philanthropic use of wealth.
I got up before Daisy.
There was no smoke coming from the chimney of the cabin so I took the
camera and walked along the waterfront area. It seems that there used to be a
small cabin here and over the years the family added on rooms to improve the
place. Now the property belongs to all the remaining family, so any decision to
have a different look must be a collective family one. This has its advantages as well as challenges.
When I returned to the cabin, Jane treated all of us to a breakfast of bacon and buckwheat blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup from a local supplier. It was just yummy.
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| Canoe or kayak anyone? |
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| Just peaceful with loons sounding in the background |
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| Early morning glassy lake views are full of silence. |
When I returned to the cabin, Jane treated all of us to a breakfast of bacon and buckwheat blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup from a local supplier. It was just yummy.
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| We bought this poster. |
We got out for another day of sightseeing, this time to the
west toward Stonington, and visited several galleries including watercolors, a metal
sculpture garden, Nervous Nellie’s Jams and Jellies, and Haystack Mountain
School of Crafts. 
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| Ice cream |
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| Milk shakes are good by the way. |
In Blue Hill, ME, we stopped into the Jud Hartmann Gallery, and it captured my attention. Hartmann does bronze sculptures focusing on members of the Iroquois and Algonquian tribes, which he calls the woodland tribes of the Northeast.
He was in residence and showed us clay models of his new presentations in progress. Hartmann is a gifted storyteller as well as an artist and gave us the story line behind each of his creations. We had a great conversation with him.
We planned our last Maine lobster meal to be at another place that my daughter's family had recommended.
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| The cooking pots are outside. |
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| Lobster stew starts here with sauteed lobster in a rich cream sauce. |
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| Then hard shell lobster boiled in seawater capped the meal. |
We did not see the primary touristy parts of Acadia National Park or Bar Harbor on purpose. We plan to go back to Maine someday in the near future, and then we will explore those areas.
The last word of wisdom from Maine is:
And we have enjoyed so much of this area that we are even looking like the inhabitants.
Atlantic Provinces of Canada, here we come!
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